Greenhouse growers could boost yields by adding silicon to their nutrient applications, irrigation or potting mixes, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists.
A growing body of research suggests that silicon boosts yields and protects plants from toxicity and fungal diseases. This in turn means that silicon may reduce the need for plant growth regulators and disease-control pesticides.
Over the past three years, horticulturist Jonathan Frantz and plant pathologist Jim Locke with the ARS Greenhouse Production Research Group in Toledo, Ohio - along with other ARS and University of Toledo colleagues - have studied silicon uptake in a variety of ornamentals, including begonia, carnation, geranium, impatiens, marigold, orchid, pansy, petunia, snapdragon, verbena and zinnia.
X-ray analysis has shown that some of these plants, such as New Guinea impatiens, marigold and zinnia, accumulate silicon in significant concentrations in unique cells in their leaves.
The scientists also tested some of these plants to see if silicon imparts resistance to two widespread pathogenic fungi: grey mould and powdery mildew. They found that it helps reduce symptoms of powdery mildew in zinnia but has no effect on species such as begonia and geranium, which do not accumulate silicon.
The scientists will continue to use similar tests to see if silicon accumulates in the leaves of other ornamental crops and test those crops for silicon-induced resistance to insect pests.
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